Tararua Lodge, Whakapapa Ski field, Mt Ruapehu: Notes for newcomers

Tararua Lodge is a well-equipped facility with electricity, hot showers and a drying room.
The lodge is at the same altitude as the top of Whakapapa’s first chair lift and is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the top of the lift with weekend gear.
From the end of the Bruce road the Lodge is a 40 to 60 minute hike up the ski field with weekend gear.
These times will vary in winter due to the snow and weather conditions.
This remoteness adds to the wilderness experience and in winter means you can ski to and from the lodge.

Make sure you have the lodge phone number 027 882 5343 with you, so you can ring if things do not go to plan. There is a card phone near the ticket office at the top of the Bruce road.
Mobile phones work in most places on the ski field.

Getting to the Lodge

Weekend trips

Most club trips leave from the Aotea Quay side of the railway station after work on Friday evening.
Unless you hear otherwise, you will probably stop for takeaway food on the way up, and arrive at the car park about 11.00pm.
Have a torch, boots and tramping gear (including waterproof parka, overtrousers, warm hat and gloves) at the top of your pack.

Please do not leave the car park without your trip leader

Stay with your group on the way up to the lodge'' (make sure people know that it is your first trip). It is your leader’s job to get you there safely; it is your job to stay close to the leader.

Week trips and non-member groups

For safety reasons all new groups need to be guided to the Lodge by an experienced person capable of finding the lodge in all weather.
It is the responsibility of the TTC trip leader or in absence of a leader the lodge custodian to get you to the lodge safely from the top of the Bruce Road (often tyre chains are required for the road).

It is your responsibility to coordinate with the leader or custodian. You will not want to arrive and find the lodge locked! If it is a good day the leader or custodian may be skiing so initial contact should be made in the evenings or early morning. The leader/custodian will assess the weather and the group and determine the best way for the group to safely get to the Lodge.

Food

Communal breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided. (Unless as a large group you have made other arrangements)
You may be asked to help with the shopping.
You will be asked to help carry food and other supplies up to the lodge unless a custodian is present. Duties will be rostered.
You are responsible for your own snack food for day trips.

Lodge Safety

The trip leader will show you where fire exits and extinguishers are.
Keep footwear, raincoat and torch by your bunk so you are prepared to leave the lodge in emergencies during the night.

Car parking

When the park is clear of snow can you ensure that you park within the marked car spaces.

Take care as to how you park allowing other cars to move out when required.

For the late night travellers it is advisable to carry a torch or headlamp and have appropriate foot wear and/or shoe chains for navigating the ice when required. If you are walking up onto the mountain please take extreme care around groomers, particularly if you suspect they are operating the winch – stay well clear until the groomer has unhook the winch. A headlamp and high vis is a great way to be seen at night by our snowmobile operators as well.

Chains should always be carried, after snow you may need them to extract your vehicle if we haven’t been able to clear around it.